ILOILO City – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 has expressed readiness to assist residents near Mount Kanlaon in reviving their livelihoods, particularly through reforestation efforts, should they decide to return to their communities following the volcano’s eruption.
DENR-6 officer-in-charge Regional Executive Director Raul Lorilla said preparations are underway, including an inventory of forest products in affected areas.
This is being done in collaboration with the Provincial and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices of Negros Occidental.
“We are conducting an inventory of forest products to assess their viability. This will support the rehabilitation of affected areas, including potential materials for rebuilding homes and restarting livelihoods, especially for evacuees planning to return,” Lorilla explained.
Aside from the inventory, Lorilla said DENR-6 is also prepared to resume marking and determining danger zones around Mount Kanlaon, which was temporarily halted due to the volcano’s eruption on December 9.
“We are waiting for the advisory from concerned agencies, but the DENR is actively involved in identifying the danger zones. This includes determining the four-kilometer permanent danger zone and the six-kilometer extended danger zone, which will guide evacuation plans in case of future threats,” Lorilla added.
He emphasized that clearly marked danger zones are crucial for the safety of residents, as they provide a basis for evacuation strategies and ensure that people avoid high-risk areas near the volcano.
As of December 16, a total of 10,784 families or 43,970 individuals have been affected by the eruption. These residents are from Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Murcia, Pontevedra, and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, as well as Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
Of this number, 4,275 families or 13,688 individuals are currently staying in evacuation centers, while 694 families or 2,366 individuals are staying outside evacuation centers./PN
